Brian G. Eskin

June 2010

The subtle changes they don’t want you to notice-REVEALED

When you analyze your health insurance program the only thing that is a constant these days is that the price is always going up. As you prepare yourself for your annual increase, some of you may have found that not only have you received an increase, but also the plan does not provide the value it once did. For example, Empire recently increased the specialist and hospital co-pays to some of their Prism plans. Emblem on their cost-sharing plans used to charge a co-pay for labs and diagnostic tests. Now those same labs and diagnostic tests are subject to deductibles and coinsurance. Oxford also did something similar to their Liberty HMO plan. Bottom line, you are losing value. It is imperative these days to review your plan annually before you get an unhappy surprise.

Tightening the Rules!

Emblem recently changed their qualification guidelines for their small groups. In order to continue to qualify for Emblem you need to have at least 2 enrollees. Typically, if you don’t have any other enrollees in the company, you will need to choose another carrier at renewal. One solution is that if you have at least 2 enrollees at the company, but only one wants Emblem, the lone enrollee can get an Emblem HealthPass plan and the other enrollee can choose another carrier that HealthPass offers.

What is HealthPass?

HealthPass is an affordable way for small businesses to offer a variety of health benefit options to their employees at no extra cost to the employer. When a small business offers HealthPass, each employee gets to choose from over 20 health benefit options from 4 leading health carriers - EmblemHealth GHI, HIP, and Oxford plus dental and EverGuard through Guardian. HealthPass provides employers and employees CHOICE, just like a Fortune 500 company.  Rates vary based on the plan design and coverage level chosen with plans available from under $220 for single coverage to under $630 for family coverage. 

Added Value…

Often times I’m asked about Medicare Insurance. Typically I’ve passed this on outside my organization, but I’m happy to announce I can now have the inner resources of a medicare specialist to answer questions and provide insight on plans. That’s all folks.

Brian G. Eskin is an Insurance Specialist with B2 Wealth Consultants. He is available for all questions about this article and other insurance questions.

beskin@b2equity.com
Tel: 516-336-6300 x29
Fax: 516-336-6304